Tag Archives: job applications

I remember when I graduated and I have blogged about this multiple times before, but it is totally normal to find the process of job hunting online boring, frustrating, time-consuming and somewhat depressing! Our parents tended to job hunt in person yet, increasingly, new jobs are being advertised and processed online via online job applications. You may have to uploaded your CV and cover letter etc. and wonder why you hear nothing back…

Beat the Applicant Tracking System

Well it’s probably because no one sees it! That’s right, a computer sifts through all those hundreds, if not thousands of CV’s searching for specific keywords within your CV; and if you pass the ‘Applicant Tracking System’ process only then will a human – aka the HR department, actually read your CV!!

The thought process understandably is that one person cannot deal with the overwhelming surge in applications and so the computer system takes over, saving time. However, in my opinion, great, talented candidates are put off by such lengthy and inhuman processes, so will look and apply elsewhere.

Potentially, there are ways to beat the system so to speak. By inputting keywords into your CV in white (so they are picked up but not shown up) or even formatting your CV better, the list goes on. But is it worth it?

You may be the perfect candidate and incredibly talented but if you don’t specify specific keywords outlined in the job description, (& it’s pot luck to receive one) your CV won’t be selected!

Dream job is an Email away!

As the title of this blog post suggests, it is possible to bypass those pointless job applications that disappear into the abyss. Just use email! Believe it or not there are jobs out there that don’t require you to fill out pointless applications!

Even if there are no vacancies advertised at your dream company, it is always worth sending prospective emails with your CV attached. Start by introducing yourself, outlining your past and current situation, experience, why you should work at the company and what you can bring to the table, also know as ‘pain letters’. The worst thing they can do is ignore you, but you have a much better chance of being noticed with your CV being read and also are more likely to be considered for future roles too! Also, make sure to include contact details and a link to your LinkedIn profile in your signature!

Don’t you just hate it when your parents & friends constantly enquire about the status of your job hunt?! “Have you had any interviews, how’s the job hunt going, got the job of your dreams yet?”

I’ve been there and it’s frustrating as hell. Gone are the days when you could just walk into a job and be set for life. Today, you’re battling with millions of other just as good, if not better graduates, combined with (pointless) online applications & selection criteria; in addition to horribly stressful interviews.

Psychometric tests & situational tests… for what?

I remember in my quest last year to get a job, I applied to work at a well know supermarket chain (so glad I didn’t progress!) Cue personality tests & situation tests, passing this a phone then a group interview. All to work for a little bit above minimum wage, essentially stacking shelves. Crazy in my opinion. There is no way you can gauge whether someone is fit for the role, intelligent or even passionate for the job if this is what you have to endure to get to the final face-to-face interview. I also read somewhere that CV’s are gone through a screening process (applicant tracking system) & often discarded way before a human has even seen them! Certain tag lines within your CV are scanned to filter them out. So take it with a pinch of salt if you apply online & never hear back.

Months and months of searching, applying & being constantly rejected can seriously take its toll. I have shed many a tear of frustration. I found it incredibly depressing, stressful and hard to stay upbeat & motivated!

So this is what I did…

Get a job, even if it isn’t your dream job.

Hey, it’s all experience and you never know, network and you could achieve the job of your dreams. It is much easier and less stressful to look for a job if you already have a job. Having an income is great and it gives you a hell of a lot more to talk about in your interview.

Network like there is no tomorrow

You never know who might be hiring so it’s always worth striking up a conversion, even with a stranger. Many companies and hiring managers do advertise; but a staggering 95% of jobs* are never advertised!!!

Dream Job Lists

Write down a list of company’s you want to work for or roles that you see yourself doing. Write some job goals, things you want to get out of that job, whether it is to save money or career progression. I desire a job where I’m always learning & constantly being challenged. Focusing on what you want will help drive you in the right direction. Trust your instinct and do a job that feels right for YOU!

Also, Linkedin is a great way to learn about jobs. It also has a great feature where you can instantly apply for a job, complete with your CV & Linkedin profile. Once you get Linkedin and know how to use it to your advantage, you’ll be fine.

Attend Interviews

It sounds insane & a waste of time… but hear me out! If you are offered an interview for a role – even if it’s a job you’re not interested in, GO FOR IT. If you can afford it, I highly recommend attending as many interviews as possible because gaining experience in a variety of interview settings will prepare you for so much!

Job hunting is stressful & tiring so don’t forget to treat yourself! Go out with friends & have fun. If you have a job, jam pack your days off with things you want to do.

Summer of 2015 I religiously applied to jobs online. I spent hours perfecting my CV and Cover letter and successfully completed numerous online applications. So, you can imagine my shock & annoyance when I received many automated responses saying the vacancy was filled weeks ago. This isn’t the first time it’s happened to me and sadly won’t be the last… Since then I have spoken to many hiring managers and HR personnel and this is surprisingly common. In another case I applied online for a role and went to the interview, only to be told that they changed the job specification!

The point I’m trying to make is that, from my experience, you should take rejection from roles you’ve applied for with a pinch of salt! Due to this, I highly recommend networking or, at the very least, really researching the job role in depth, who the interviewer is and exactly why there is a vacancy in the first place.

I naively didn’t realise when I first started job hunting just how devious some hiring managers can be…

Jobs are posted then never taken down

This happens a lot. I’ve been sucked into applying for many jobs, only to find out they were filled months ago but no one bothered to take the advert down! This especially occurs on places like Gumtree but also on big brands own website, whilst their current jobs take forever to be posted, if at all.

‘Fake’ Jobs are posted

Often, it tends to be recruiters who do this, but supposed job postings are advertised in the hope of attracting lots of candidates. These candidates CV’s will then be kept on file for recruiters generating a huge pool for future use, should there ever actually be a job later. And sometimes, individuals will copy your CV – so been careful

Internal Hiring / transfers

Although a vacancy is advertised, what goes on behind the scenes may be very different. Many employers and hiring managers will post a job advert, go through the motions of selecting and interviewing candidates; knowing full well they won’t hire you. Effectively, they are wasting your valuable time and energy. They may have already organised hiring internally, or nepotism might be at play…

Hiring Freeze

Some companies will advertise and interview candidates knowing that a hiring freeze is imminent, but want to gauge the talent that’s out there. The interviewer might actually love to hire you but hands are tied and money in the company is tight so can’t afford to take you on, so don’t feel disheartened.

It’s a shame many employers don’t offer feedback or say who they finally hired and why.

Let me know if you have ever experienced this! As always, good luck in the job hunt! Let me know if there is a topic you want me to discuss 🙂

Like this:

One of the easiest traps to fall into is to rely on a recruiter and recruitment websites such as Higher the Talent. I don’t know about you, but graduating and having to enter the big wide world of full-time employment, to gain “a proper job” is possibly the most terrifying and stressful thing ever!

I uploaded CV’s & cover letters to just about every one of these sites thinking that was the way forward. I inputted my job requirements such as role, pay and location etc. The following day I received an overwhelming number of voicemails – all these recruiters want me!

I felt over the moon, seriously. Over the phone and face to face interviews scheduled, I thought I was going to receive the job of my dreams, with an insane pay packet – all based on conversations with recruiters. However, I made the very expensive mistake of trusting them, ultimately costing hundreds to attend interviews in London.

“OTE 40k!!”

I endured hellish interviews with recruiters, some of which were an utter waste of time. Many lie through their teeth about the job specification, or even salary and location, just to persuade you to attend. They receive X amount of money based on the number of CV’s they screen and candidates they push forward. Most don’t care about you. They will cold call and cold email you repeatedly – they don’t think you will be great for the job, they just need their pay cheque.

Sugarcoated lies

These ruthless recruiters seduced me by telling me how amazing I was, sugar coating job roles and promising the world with the opportunity to earn 40k in year one. Guys, if it sounds too good to be true… it is!

Some recruiters might be great and may find you the job of your dreams. Some may be lovely, but that will be incredibly exceptional! My advice? Stay clear of ruthless recruiters as the majority of them are charlatans. Apply for jobs from the source via the hiring manager or company website, Linkedin and by social networking but beware of the recruiter!

So I graduated class of 2015 and it was great. What wasn’t so great were the months and months after graduation when I was job hunting. I really do think our generation has it the worst. I naively thought graduating with a BSc Psychology 2:1 would ensure I would achieve the job of my dreams almost instantly, given my past job hunt and interview success rate.

Oh how wrong was I!

In fact, what most people don’t know or realise is just how depressing the job hunt can be! Honestly, I felt so unbelievably low, spending ages and ages writing pages and pages of ‘Why I should be Hired’ blurbs and cover letters, for what? Only them to be sent through the black-hole of the internet. To receive an automated, undesirable ‘Thank You’, don’t call us we’ll call you. Oh, and you’re lucky to get that!

Over Qualified & Inexperienced

It is so disheartening job hunting online. I did as every other graduate seems to do, I applied directly to companies and signed up to the likes of Milkround and Reed. Word of advice? Don’t bother, save your time and energy as it’s so saturated! I wish someone had told me that!

After a while I did have a few job interviews, all really good experience from group interviews, panel interviews and psychometric testing but unfortunately was pipped to the post due to being ‘over qualified or for lack of experience’ – If I had a pound for every-time I heard that….

Rejection, Rejection & More Rejection!

Anyway, being constantly rejected based on something you really can’t help is possibly the most frustrating thing ever. Nearly reaching the end of my tether and working in a dead end job I decided I drastically needed to do something… anything. Eventually, I decided to sort out my Linkedin as other people were getting into it and I thought hey, what the hell.

Surprisingly, I have had quite a few job offers through Linkedin and I would definitely recommend it!

Let me know in the comments your experiences tips and tricks to securing the job of your dreams!